Humans are, by nature, social beings.   With rare exception, we cannot survive very long with the support of other humans.   Having a Mutual support Team  will be even more important under emergency conditions.   You'd best become part of a existing group that is creating a large multi-person bunker system.   Or talk with your family and friends.   Create a mutual support team and together, build your bunker.  

We invite you to examine and assist us in creating a model emergency community support system (including an emergency bunker system) such as that described on one or TLC-Life-Center's websites at: http://www.PeoplesFoundations.com#gr  

This type of communities do not yet exist, except for the super-wealthy who are not about to invite our participation.

Bunker Location:

Distance from Population Centers:   You'd best have your emergency bunker at least a hundred miles from a major city.   You don't want hoodlums or other desperate people able to walk to your location.  

Elevation:  Your bunker should be at least 400 feet above sea level, preferably over 800 feet above sea level.   Title waves could be a problem at lower elevations.  

Large bodies of water:   Also, you do not want your bunker near a lake or river that could wash over your site as a result of a major earthquake.  

Volcanoes:   You also do not want your bunker any where near a mountain that is also a volcano.  Be sure you are not in the path of any debris or lava flow from an erupting volcano.   

River Floodplains:  River valleys are pleasant places except in times of floods.   If you are in river valley, be sure your bunker is above the flood plain.    

Nuclear  Power Plants:  Avoid being down wind of a nuclear power plant.  

Forest Fires:  In remote areas, forest fires can be a serious problem.   To the best of your ability, fireproof any above ground structures     

Site Geological Safety:  The site must NOT be in the path of potential floods, mud slides, rock slides, and avalanches.     

Secrecy:

Because safety will be a major issue in an emergency, the fewer people who know that your bunker exists, the better off you are.   Under emergency conditions, (actually under any conditions) you don't want government agents, hoodlums, or other desperate people arriving at your door.   

Bunker Size

Bunker size varies on several major criteria, such as:    how much space you'd like for each person,  how many people you'd intend to have in the bunker, how much storage area you need/desire,  the length of time that the people will be in the bunker.  

Seasonal Construction 

The seasonal weather and ground conditions have to be considered for construction.  Construction in much more difficult under winter conditions or when the roads are muddy.    

Construction Time 

You need to plan ahead and allow time for construction.   Because we use a modular format, the larger bunkers can be constructed piecemeal, with the main structures built first and the peripherals added later.   For a small single unit bunker allow about six months for construction.  

Bunker Site Topography and Geology

Another consideration is the site topography and the soil geology.   Is the site on level ground or on a hillside?   Is the soil rocky sandy, clay, or rock?      

As mentioned above, the site must NOT be in the path of potential floods, mud slides, rock slides, and avalanches.

Bunker History 

Today we are not building bomb shelters.   We are building shelters for self-survival and self protection in times of natural disasters.   Thus, the styles and designs distinctly different.  

For comparison, we'll give you a bit of bunker history.   A typical atomic bomb shelter was 40 feet deep.   In Iraq, Saddam's bunkers were 80 to 100 feet deep.   In WWII, the Maginot line bunkers were about 80 feet deep.   In Belgium, the Gustav line bunkers were 90 feet deep.   There was even a bunker 240 feet deep in Switzerland.   The bunker roofs and walls were commonly several feet thick. made of cement with reinforced steel rods in the cement.

Many bunkers were built as part of an interconnected system.   Tunnels between the bunkers were anywhere from 16 to 90 feet below the Earth's surface.   There were bunkers on the coast of Europe which housed Hitler's submarines.  

Today, almost all countries, including the Unites States, have extensive networks of underground bunkers.   Beyond the fact that they exist and that they are exclusively for the wealthy and the powerful, we know almost nothing about them.   But rather than focusing on what others are or are not doing, let's direct our attention onto our own creations.    

Present-Day Shelters

Today we are building shelters for self-survival and self protection in times of natural disasters.  

Shelter Depth:   Shelter depth needs to be only about three meters (about ten feet),  deep enough to keep out unwanted intruders who might attempt of access your locked bunker from the outside. 

Wall Thickness:   Wall, roof, and floor thickness need only be thick enough to ensure structural integrity in the event of an earthquake.  

Government Shelters

You Are on Your Own:   In times of emergency, don't look to the government, or anybody else to take care of you.   Billions of dollars have been spent on emergency shelters, but you can be certain that unless you are part of the inner circle, when the doors close in an emergency, you and I will be on the outside.

Bunkers, Condominium Style

Commonly, individual families cannot afford to build private, one family bunkers.   Under these circumstances, co-creating with other families may be the only practical way to go.  

Cost wise, it much cheaper to build a bunker complex to house ten families, than it is to build ten single family bunkers.  

Not only that, you chances of surviving a natural disaster are dramatically increased by having and functioning within a mutual-support team.   Readers are directed to the section above titled:  

Finding or Creating a Mutual Support Team

Each bunker has to have some source of water.   It  can be an internal set of tanks.    I can be piped in from a near by well or spring.   If you intend to have an outside source of water you need find that source and figure out how to get it to your bunker site.  

You cannot depend upon any water supply that is supplied by your local community water system.   It will very likely not be working in an emergency.   

Your Bunker needs to have a stockpile of food that is capable of long-term storage.  The day you head for your bunker, you cannot expect to take very much of anything with you.   Everything you need, must be there waiting for you.   You'd best begin looking for and purchasing emergency food supplies now, because they may not be available later.   

All of our bunkers are custom designed.   For security purposes we do not display plans or designs for our large bunker complexes on our websites.   For designs of our under-$30,000 units please see the page titled: Affordable, Emergency Safety Shelters.  In order to plan your bunker, we require some basic information -- information that will enable us to create the best possible emergency shelter to fulfill your needs within the constraints of your budget.   Please consider the factors listed below.  

What is your intention?   Why do you want a bunker?  

Where is your bunker site located?   Describe the area.   Is it rural or urban?  

Is your bunker to be on the same site as your personal residence, or on your business property, or elsewhere?  

Have you considered becomming part of a Safe-Haven Community?

How many people will be in your bunker?  How old are they?   How many of your bunker residence are capable of participating in your bunker's emergnecy management?   Are there any special medical needs?   Are there children involved?   If so how old are they?

How long are you planning to be in bunker without outside support or  supplies?  

Are you aware that in an extended times of emergency, you may have to defend your bunker against outside intruders?   A secure and defendable bunker requires a very different construction design than a bunker designed for short-term shelter, such as in times of a tornado or a wild forest fire.

What is your budget?  

What is your site's elevation above sea level? 

How close are your neighbors?   What is the degree of privacy from the eyes of neighbors?   

What is the topography -- hilly of flat?  

What is the soil like  --  sandy, clay, loam, rocky, etc.?

What is on the site now --  trees, grass, buildings, etc.?  Do you have any site diagrams or aerial pictures of the property?  

Is this to be a secret bunker?  Who will know about it?   Will you be drawing building permits?  

Are you planning on an above ground structure over the bunker or nearby?  

Are you considering hiding your bunker as part of building an openly known above-ground structure?  

Are there existing access roads?   Describe them.  

Is there water on the site.?   Can a well be drilled?  Will large, water-storage containers be required.  

Tell us about your pets.   If you have pets. will they be in your bunker in an emergency?

Please provide pictures of the site and the surrounding area.  

The Basic Bunker Structure

Although all of our bunkers are custom designed, we usually build the external structures for our underground bunkers in basic 20 foot by 40 foot units.   We can make the basic unit smaller if you desire.  We can also build round bunkers.   We can also use units form our Emergency Safety Shelters in your underground bunker complex.

We can add additional 20 x 40 units at the same time that the initial construction is done for a small fraction of the cost of just one 20 x 40 unit.  

We separate the cost of the external bunker structure (floor, walls, roof, access doors, access tunnels, etc.)  from the cost of what the client wants inside his/her bunker.  Why because the internal designs vary widly and so do the costs.      Check the above list of questions and then contact us.  

Each bunker has to have some source of water.   It  can be an internal set of tanks.    I can be piped in from a near by well.   If it is to be water tanks, it must be enough to supply all bunker residents for whatever period of time you decide upon.

Each bunker has to have a source of electric power.   That is usually consists of a main generator and a back up system

In very close quarters, sanitation is important.   Depending upon your location, depending upon who and what is nearby, and depending upon the existing conditions and circumstances, you may or may not be able to step outside the bunker.  

If you are in a remote area, you'd be wise to have exterior toilet facilities available.    Human waste compost systems can be build with relative ease.    

The normal ambient temperature  inside the Earth is about 56 degrees Fahrenheit.   An unheated bunker will be approximately 56 degreed F.   Although livable, it is not comfortable in the long term.   Some form of additional heating will be very welcome. 

Ideally, each bunker unit should have at least two access/exit tunnels and at least two air vent shafts.  In come cases these functions can be combined.   Security to keep unwanted people or animals is also part of this aspect of bunker building. 

Keep in mind that we are talking about your safety in short-term emergencies -- a few hours up to perhaps thirty days, maximum.  

Obviously, you'll want your pet to enter the shelter with you.   However, prior to any emergency, you will have to have made preparations for it's care within the shelter, such as food, and disposal of pet urine and feces.  

If you are creating an individual bunker, you can do anything you want regarding pets or other animals.   However, if you are in a group bunker system, pets must be planned for well ahead of any emergency.   In a large bunker complex, a special area will be established for pets.   You will be required to pre-register you pet intentions so the space and facilities will be available when an emergency arrises.  

Regarding other animals, such as cows and chickens, their being in the shelter with you is not feasible unless you are part of a large community complex that has special facilities for their care.  

Here's a list of factors to consider when building a bunker:
(Listed Alphabetically)

Clothing:   There's no laundry, so pre-pack a thirty-day supply of clothes. 

Communication:   How do you intend to communicate with the outside world?

Electricity:   Batteries,  Hand powered generators.   Diesel powered generators, flashlights.

Entertainment and Education:    Videos, toys, games  

Food and food storage:

Fuel for generators  

Health and medical emergencies

Living space, eating and sleeping spaces

Personal hygiene

Privacy:  

Sewer system:  

Water:  Water storage.   Water Disposal

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